The camp of the Longxiang Brigade was brightly lit and fragrant, Liu Ximing was not idle, and while the roasted whole sheep was not yet cooked, he brought Su Jin, who was also looking forward to staring at the barbecue, to question.

"How do you feel about returning to your homeland?"

Su Jin reluctantly moved his gaze back from the bonfire shelf, and was suddenly aroused by Liu Ximing's words.

"Things are people, and it is difficult to be in love", Su Jin sighed.

"I think that my father was in trouble that day, and now I am afraid that I can't even find the bones, I am really a son of heartache, and there is no more unfilial piety than this."

Liu Ximing saw that Su Jin was in a mood, and hurriedly stepped forward and patted him on the back to comfort him.

"This is a natural disaster**, non-human can stop it, since we are here, let's go to Yangxian County to have a look, and forget about your heart knot."

"Thank you, lord", Su Jin's long beard trembled a little.

Liu Ximing waved his hand casually, "Now Hanzhong is ruined, but if my family wants to communicate with Shaanxi, it must pass through Hanzhong, and it is inevitable that something must be done in the meantime, do you think your family still has any relationship here?" ”

Su Jin fell into deep thought.

After a long time, he replied: "I have made a lot of friends after passing the exam, but I don't know if the matter of my thief has spread in the house, otherwise wouldn't it have been a mistake for the lord?" ”

Liu Ximing was helpless in his heart, but fortunately he did not completely pin his hopes on Su Jin.

The Xie family has been operating the Shaanxi business road for many years, and some help can be used.

I am about to become the uncle of the Xie family, and there is no burden to ask my father-in-law to help.

After resting for a night under the city of Chuxian County, the group set up camp at dawn and headed towards Nanzheng County, where the city of Hanzhong was located.

The cities on the Hanzhong Plain were mainly built along the Han River, and the end was a land of ointment.

Liu Ximing knew that this was one of the earliest areas in China to develop agriculture, and it could barely be called the birthplace of the Chinese nation.

But along the way, the fertile fields on both sides of the Han River are fine, and there are basically people farming, but these farmers are all black and thin, and there is no longer a prosperous scene.

A little further away from Hanshui, most of the water conservancy facilities that needed to be built to ensure the harvest had been abandoned.

Along the way, with the exception of villages such as Wubao, which were apparently built by local tycoons, most of the villages inhabited by yeoman farmers have been dilapidated.

Most of the young men in the Longxiang Brigade were from peasant families, and their hearts ached slightly when they saw such a barren land like this.

Seeing this, Shao Derong, Li Biao and others seized this opportunity to engage in several ideological studies when they camped at night, so that everyone could remember where the good days came from.

In this regard, Liu Ximing did not say anything on the surface, but he was very satisfied in his heart.

Nanzheng is located on the north bank of the Han River, the city wall is as high as three zhang, and the circumference is about nine miles, which is comparable to the city of Shunqingfu.

It is noticeably more densely populated than in other places, and there are more and more business travelers.

But outside the city is still the same as the several prefectures and cities that Liu Ximing has visited, and many homeless people live outside the city wall, which makes the originally solemn atmosphere a little sad.

Although Liu Ximing's trip was still a bit eye-catching, he finally entered the city smoothly.

The Xie family had already arranged for people to squat at the city gate, and when they were connected, they would directly bring the people and horses to settle near the Xie family's shop.

Liu Ximing had already discussed with Xie Chengzhou about the reorganization of the trade route, and the Xie family was really quite capable, and that night they invited several masters of the prefect's yamen and some minor officials at the prefect and county levels to a banquet.

It's just that these people don't refuse to eat and drink at all, but when it comes to whether they can buy land and build a village, they are a little noncommittal.

Liu Xi's condition is that he hopes to be able to build a village according to Shunqing, but he will not pay grain, even if he takes out some money to feed the following officials.

These people just smiled and shook their heads, saying that if they wanted not to pay the grain, then they could only not apply for the field register.

How could Liu Ximing do such a stupid thing, although he said that he had soldiers and food, but after all, the strong dragon did not suppress the head snake, if he turned back and secretly assigned his land to their name, then what should he do, do you want to go to war directly.

After a meal, Liu Ximing found out the situation in Hanzhong, but his idea of building another stronghold in Hanzhong to protect the trade route was difficult to achieve.

Because of this, Liu Ximing and others only stayed in Hanzhong for two days, and after visiting several scenic spots in Hanzhong with Du Liangji, Zhao Xiangyang and others, they set off for Yangxian again.

"Go to the left", Su Jin, who was originally sitting in the carriage, had already run to the front of the team to guide the way.

The Hanzhong Plain is a flat river, and there is no need to worry about being ambushed and attacked, so the Longxiang Brigade does not need to send far guard teams along the way.

When the group was about to arrive in Yangxian, they turned north from the official road, and a dilapidated village gradually appeared in the eyes of everyone.

"This is your home?"

Liu Ximing immediately stepped forward and walked side by side with Su Jin.

Su Jin looked at the scene in front of him, and there was a trace of desolation in his eyes.

He nodded silently, "This place is called Weijia Village, I don't know if anyone lives here, I remember that night the tiger in the mountains burned, killed and looted, and there were not many people who wanted to escape." ”

Liu Ximing flicked the whip and hit the horse forward, "Just go in and take a look, and by the way, see if there is the whereabouts of Su Taigong's bones." ”

When Liu Ximing and the others walked in, a few wisps of cooking smoke rose in Weijia Village, and everyone was in high spirits.

However, when Su Jin approached the village, he found that the population here had recovered somewhat, but few of them were known to him.

A large group of people was found approaching, and the whole village was also jumped.

When Liu Ximing walked to the village, he found the village

The only hundred or so people in the village had already gathered at the entrance of the village, shivering and looking at themselves and the others with fear in their eyes.

An old man who seemed to be the leader stood tremblingly at the front of the team and waved at Liu Ximing and the others: "Master, I am waiting for the mountains and wilderness villages, only some old and weak people are here to survive, and I ask the master to spare his life." ”

"Uncle, where do you see us like strongmen?"

Liu Ximing took a closer look at the hundreds of people in Weijia Village, and found that as the old man said, most of them were old people who were over half a hundred years old, and there were only about thirty young men and women.

In such a cold winter, these people were still wearing single clothes, and their lips were purple from the cold.

Liu Ximing's gentle attitude eased the old man's heart, and he quickly knelt down and said: "It turned out to be a noble person passing by, and there is no surplus food in this village, please forgive the little ones for not being able to entertain the nobles." ”

Liu Ximing sighed and didn't speak, only turned his head to look at Su Jin.

Su Jin gently turned over and dismounted and helped the old man up: "Uncle, are you all new here, are there still villagers from the original Weijia Village here?" ”

When the old man saw Su Jin coming to help him, he was so frightened that he hurriedly hid back.

"No, no, the little body is dirty, I'm afraid of staining the nobleman's hands."

"The little old men are indeed new to move here, this person from Weijia Village", the old man looked at Su Jin with cloudy eyes.

"I heard that they are all dead and scattered, and there should be no one left."

Su Jin had a look of chagrin on his face.

At this time, a half-grown man in the crowd behind the old man suddenly said: "Grandpa, didn't the cripple in the village say that he was from Weijia Village?" ”

"What? Where are the people? ”

Su Jin and Liu Ximing said in unison, their faces full of joy.

The old man patted his head vigorously, "I'm getting older, people are getting more and more confused, there is indeed someone in the village who is from the original Weijia Village, but he broke his leg this year, and now he can only lie at home, and it is estimated that he is about to die." ”

Su Jin looked anxious: "Quick, take me to have a look." ”

After speaking, without waiting for the old man's consent, he pulled the old man towards the village.

Liu Ximing gave Wei Jingguo a look, and he hurriedly took two guards to follow, and the old man walked towards the village.

Judging from the current appearance of Weijia Village, it is not difficult to see that it was originally supposed to be a large village with dense population.

The whole village covers an area of at least 200 meters long and 100 meters wide, and there are ruins and broken walls everywhere, only some thatched houses are still intact, and you can see at a glance that they were renovated later.

The old man was carried to a half-collapsed house in the village, and hurriedly shouted to stop.

Su Jin said to Liu Ximing with joy on his face: "This is Pan Hutou's family in the village, and his family turned out to be my family worker. ”

Liu Ximing didn't answer, but just motioned to go in the door and have a look.